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Man and woman accused of leaving toddler home alone while they shopped

Published: Friday, October 25, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 25, 2013 at 10:32 p.m.

A Spartanburg man and woman are accused of leaving a toddler home alone while they shopped at a Wal-Mart store.

Ashley Deanna Fortenberry, 21, and Christopher Darrell Smith, 25, both of 1000 E. Main St. Apartment 107 K, are each charged with one count of child neglect.

Spartanburg Public Safety officers responded to a complaint that a 2-year-old had been left alone at an apartment around 2:20 a.m. Oct. 11. Smith told an officer that he had been home all day, and officers were told they could check on the child, according to an incident report.

The child's bedroom door was locked — Fortenberry told police the child locked it from time to time. Officers “easily unlocked” the door and the child sat up in his bed when they entered and appeared to be fine, according to the report.

Officers checked a vehicle parked in front of the apartment that Fortenberry said belonged to them and found that the vehicle's engine was warm. Fortenberry reportedly told another officer that Smith had gone to the store by himself while she stayed at the apartment.

Officers left the apartment. After leaving, one officer noticed a vehicle on East Main Street stopping in the roadway and pulling into the median, and the officer pulled behind the stopped vehicle and spoke to the driver.

The driver told the officer she was at the east-side Wal-Mart store around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 11 and saw Fortenberry and Smith and asked Fortenberry where the couple's child was.

The woman claimed Fortenberry told her the child was home by himself, and said Fortenberry laughed when she was warned of possible dangers to the child's safety, the report states.

Surveillance video was not immediately available from the store and it was noted in a report that more investigation was needed.

Fortenberry and Smith were arrested Friday morning, according to online jail records.

<p>A Spartanburg man and woman are accused of leaving a toddler home alone while they shopped at a Wal-Mart store.</p><p>Ashley Deanna Fortenberry, 21, and Christopher Darrell Smith, 25, both of 1000 E. Main St. Apartment 107 K, are each charged with one count of child neglect.</p><p>Spartanburg Public Safety officers responded to a complaint that a 2-year-old had been left alone at an apartment around 2:20 a.m. Oct. 11. Smith told an officer that he had been home all day, and officers were told they could check on the child, according to an incident report.</p><p>The child's bedroom door was locked — Fortenberry told police the child locked it from time to time. Officers “easily unlocked” the door and the child sat up in his bed when they entered and appeared to be fine, according to the report.</p><p>Officers checked a vehicle parked in front of the apartment that Fortenberry said belonged to them and found that the vehicle's engine was warm. Fortenberry reportedly told another officer that Smith had gone to the store by himself while she stayed at the apartment.</p><p>Officers left the apartment. After leaving, one officer noticed a vehicle on East Main Street stopping in the roadway and pulling into the median, and the officer pulled behind the stopped vehicle and spoke to the driver.</p><p>The driver told the officer she was at the east-side Wal-Mart store around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 11 and saw Fortenberry and Smith and asked Fortenberry where the couple's child was.</p><p>The woman claimed Fortenberry told her the child was home by himself, and said Fortenberry laughed when she was warned of possible dangers to the child's safety, the report states.</p><p>Surveillance video was not immediately available from the store and it was noted in a report that more investigation was needed.</p><p>Fortenberry and Smith were arrested Friday morning, according to online jail records.</p>